Pokemon: it's Nintendo's biggest media franchise, and it keeps on growing every year. Perhaps the♉ reason Pokemon appeals to so many people is the potential for complex strategy that it offers its ꦐplayers. Right from the beginning of its life as a series, Pokemon developed a strong competitive scene that has continued to pull in players from all across the world.
There are many factors to consider when crafting the perfect team: type coverages, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:perfect IVs, beneficial natures, and movesets, to name only some, but perhaps the most interesting factor in team-building is held items. Who knew the simple ability to hold an item could turn the tide in many a battle? Some of the most iconic combinations of Pokemon and their held items are so well-known because of how reliable and powerful they are. From the ♏crucial Choice Band to the valuable Power Herb, let's analyze the best held item match-ups in Pokemon.
10 🗹 Snorlax and Lef⛎tovers
This combination is a classic forged by the actual games themselves ever since Generation II, with almost every wild Snorlax after that point having a 100% chance o༺f holding Leftovers. Not only is this match blessed by Game Freak, but Snorlax and Leftovers also represent the benefits that come when combining a Tank Pokemon and൩ a healing item.
A basic moveset for getting the most out of Snorlax with Leftovers is to have a reliable healing move (such as Rest) which can lengthen Snorlax's lifespan alongside its held item. For attacking, Many choose to run "Curselax," which is Snorlax with the move Curse. This move will lower Snorlax's Speed but raise its Attack and Defense by one stage each. Having Sleep Talk and a powerful 🦋attacking move can help conquer🏅 any opponent, no matter if Snorlax is asleep or awake.
9 Pikachu and Light B🔜all
Another combo that just makes sense is the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:series mascot Pikachu and the Light Ball, an item specifically designed to make the iconic Pokemon that much more appealing for battling purposes. When held by a Pikachu, the Light Ball will double both its Attack and Special At𓂃tack stat, making it more powerful and useful in battle than its evolution, Raichu.
Poor Raichu; it always gets the short end of the stick in Pokemon, but it's undeniable that this item combo makes Pikachu th♒e better choice competitively. Few recommended movesets for Pikachu come without the item, so they're a joined pair in the eyes of many a trainer.
8 Heatran and Air Balloon 𒀰
This pairing is practically a cliché in the competitive scene, but there's certainly a reason for it. Heatran is a powerful legendary Pokemon, but she has a fatal flaw: a 4x weakness to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ground-type attacks. Many players attempt to combat this by using the Air Balloon item, which allows the Pokemon to hover in 𒊎the air and become immune to Ground-type attacks.
This can force a lot of Pokemon on the other team to switch out and helps protect a team that is vulnerable to Ground overall. Air Balloon unfortunately will pop if it is hit by a damaging move, but it works well for preventing a deaཧdly hit (unless the opponent has predicted your strategy, of course).
7 ꧒ Tyranitar and ℱAssault Vest
The Assault Veꦐst has been used by many a tough Pokemon, such as Rhyperior, Arcanine, or even Duraludon, but꧙ none are as well-known as Assault Vest Tyranitar. What Assault Vest does is increase the wearer's Special Defense by 50%, but in return prevents it from using status moves. This is a tricky trade-off for some, but you likely aren't bringing a Tyranitar onto the battlefield for it to use status moves.
With stronger Special Defense, Tyranitar can let loose some serious power such as Earthquake and Stone 🐼Edge, all while not living in terror of Special Attackers like Heatran.
6 ♔ 💖 Nidoking and Life Orb
This combination is a must, and not just because of the stylish matching purple. Nidoking's Hidden Ability is Sheer Force, which increases the damage done by moves with additional effects by 30%, but will remove said additional effects. This means Nidoking benefits from moves such ꦯas Ice Beam and Sludge Wave, which have additional effects such as the chance to freeze and poison.
Nꦍormally, when the Life Orb is held, a Pokemon's attacks will be increased by 30%, but one-tenth of their max HP will be drained every turn. Thanks to Sheer Force, the damage that the Life Orb would do is canceled out, meaning Nidoking caꦅn reap the benefits without the damage penalty.
5 🍬 Xerneas and 𓆏Power Herb
This held-item duo is simple but quite effective. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Legendary Xerneas' signature move is Geomancy, which normally takes two turns to complete. By charging on one turn and completing on the second, Xerneas' Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed are boosted by 2 stages each, making it a serious threat on the battlefield. The issue is avoiding fainting before being ab🐬le to use these boosts.
This is where the Power Herb comes in. This one-use item allows any 2-turn move to be completed in one turn, making Xerneas instantly more powerful and able to use said power in its next turn. Couple this with moves such as Moonblast 🅺or Thunder and Xerneas is a force to be reckoned with.
4 🐻 Chansey and Eviolite 𝓰
When it comes to tank Pokemon, there are few as iconic as Chansey; having been in the game longer than rival tank Miltank and having the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:second-highest Base HP in the game (Blissey is five points higher at 255), there are few that can do what 🧔Chansey does.
So if Blissey has the better HP, why do players consistently choose its pre-evolved form? The answer has to do with the Eviolite, a unique held-item that increases the user's Defense and Special Defense by 50% if 𒐪they are capable of evolution. Chansey can theoretically evolve into Blissey, but Blissey cannot evolve further, making the Eviolite ineffective.
3 ♉ Garchomp and Choice Scarf ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ
This Pokemon-item pairing is so popular that it has it꧒s own nickname in the metagame: Scarfchomp. Garchomp has incredible attacking power (a Base Attack stat of 130) but its Defenses are lackluster and can get it knocked out before being able to attack, so many players choose to run Choice Scarf to get the most out of their Dragon/Ground-type.
Choice Scarf increases the Pokemon's Speed stat b𒅌y 50%, which is the boost Garchomp often needs to attack first and eliminate its opponent. Players will also put maximum Speed EVs into Garchomp to help it outspeed many of its common opponents. The downside to Choice Scarf is that only the first move selected can be used until switched out, but the benefits outweigh the cost for many players.
2 Azumarill and Choice Band 𝔍
It's a tale as old as time — Azumarill and the Choice Band. This pairing is quite common and quite deadly thanks to Azumarill's ability Huge Power, arguably꧙ one of the strongest abilities in the Pokemon game. Huge Power doubles the Pokemon's Attack stat, making Azumarill a big threat to begin with, but having it hold a Choice Bandꦑ will increase that amount by 50%, in exchange for limiting its moves to the first one selected.
If you encounter an Azumarill on the battlefield, it most likely has Aqua Jet, so be warned: this move not only has priority, 🎐but is probably also increased by Huge Power and a Choice Band.
1 Keldeo and Choice Specs ౠ
Keldeo is a unique Legendary Pokemon with a strong Special Attack and good Speed that has trainers coming 🐠back to it ever since its Gen V introduction. Due to its Special Attack, many trainers opt to give Keldeo the Choice Specs, which function similarly to the Choice Scarf and Choice Band but increases Special Attack by 50%.
All of Keldeo's attacking moves should be Special because of this, and it has a great m🍨ovepool to work with, too: its signature move, Secret Sword, Scald, which has a 30%✱ chance of burning, and even classic Hydro Pump. Keldeo is a solid choice that is undeniably improved by Choice Specs.